This article looks at several highway barrier products currently on the market. Specifications exist in both the USA and Europe covering these products. Manufacturer Energy Absorption Systems has a group of products, QuadGuard crash cushions, which are certified in both the USA and Europe. They can absorb energy in a head-on impact or redirect a vehicle from a side collision. Their Vulcan Barrier is a longitudinal redirecting barrier with a vertical steel pivot pin linking the sections, for highway maintenance projects: it can be deployed free-standing and with a variety of end terminals, including castors. Italian company Fracasso has a new barrier that combines safety with noise reduction. It features a diffractor device and provides a lower cost option for clients requiring both barrier and noise attenuation products, taking up less space than two separate barriers. Manufacturer Corus has developed the Vetex barrier system to offer high levels of containment while reducing the number of system components, reducing installation time. US manufacturer Transpo has the Visi-Barrier, a versatile product of precast polymer concrete panels with optional retro-reflective safety stripe.
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